A Nun Describes Why She Practices Reiki

Reiki is just another word for Energy from the Christ. There have been healers throughout time--it is not new age nor pagan as the Scripture is filled with accounts of healing. But unfortunately the Church has sometimes shown an unwillingness to accept that Christ can work through those of good heart and intention in our own time. Faith and Science are finding common ground but it is up to each soul to find their own truth.

It is perhaps time to consider the fact that there are many occasions when the RCC has adopted “pagan”and “alternative” rites and traditions for itself, and packaged them up to make the church more palatable to those it was trying to convert.

Winter Solstice - Christmas
Arrival of Spring - Easter
Hail Mary - Eastern tradition of mantras

And of course there were times when the church denounced those of science for being irreligious. The “biggy” that springs to mind is the ex-communication of Galileo for his audacity in suggesting that the earth was not the centre of the solar system, but that the sun was. The poor man was kept under house arrest by the inquisition for making comments that were not in accord with scripture.

There have been Popes who most certainly were in the job for political reasons, rather than spiritual ones. And a number of them were involved in relationships of a sexual nature that have been well documented.

In the first few centuries the church actually allowed clergy to marry, but it didn’t take long to realise that if clergy married, then their worldly goods might just be inherited by family rather than the church. Much more expedient to prevent marriage by clergy so that everything went to the church. Perhaps if marriage was permitted, we would hear fewer stories of sexual abuse. The Greek Orthodox Church permits marriage, and has always done so (though those clergy wishing to make it to Bishop and beyond, may not marry).

Perhaps this sounds like I am trying to make the RCC look bad - not at all - individuals doing the wrong thing have the potential to make the whole thing look bad.

We also need to be aware that historically, the Roman Catholic Church is not a flawless or faultless organisation - no organisation is. There are some truly extraordinary people within the church, as there are in most organisations. And most organisations re-organise at different times to suit the circumstances they find themselves in, as has the Roman Catholic Church, as did the Church of England, as did the Presbyterians and Methodists when they became the Uniting Church, and I could go on...

For those who say reiki is not supported by science, I respectfully suggest you go to www.australianreikiconnection.com.au and look at some of the research included there. A hospital in Western Australia (Charles Gardiner) has a treatment unit that is specifically for orthodox medical treatment and the use of complementary therapies. The most commonly requested assistance in addition to standard medical treatment, is reiki.

The National Health Service in the UK directly employs reiki practitioners who work with other medical personnel. Pain relief via reiki means less need for strong medication (a strain on a body that is already trying to heal), and less severe side-effects during chemotherapy have also been noted.

The comment posted regarding religious women, new age practices, etc, was probably to be expected... Unfortunately for women, Christ lived during a time when the world was pretty much entirely paternalistic, and this attitude survives and thrives because organisational structure and fear within hierarchies supports this approach. Christ had a number of friends who were women - so at least we know he liked them ☺

Way to go Sister Mary. Catholic beliefs are not based on scientific proof. Reiki is not a religion and has do dogma unlike the Catholic Church who has borrowed most of their traditions from the pagans.